Configurable mounting apparatus

Abstract

A multiply configurable mounting apparatus having an elongated permanently bendable support leg with a support base coupled to a first end of the support leg, the support base being structured for securing the mounting apparatus relative to an external surface; and a mounting platform coupled to a second end of the support leg opposite from the first end, the mounting platform is structured for mounting an external device to the second end portion of the permanently bendable support leg.

1 - 26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 : A method for manufacturing a vehicle mounting bracket, the method comprising: 
 of a permanently bendable material, sizing a single continuous length of an elongated member having first and second end portions separated by the length of the member;    shaping the elongated member into a configuration useful for supporting a rigid mounting platform at the second end of the elongated member;    at the first end of the elongated member, fixing a support base configured for being fixed to an external surface; and    supporting a rigid mounting platform at the second end of the elongated member.    
   
   
       28 : The method of  claim 27  wherein the sizing a single length of a elongated member further comprises sizing a single length of an elongated member using a permanently bendable continuously solid metal rod.  
   
   
       29 - 31 . (canceled)  
   
   
       32 : The method of  claim 27 , further comprising securing the support base at the first end portion of the elongated member relative to an external surface.  
   
   
       33 : The method of  claim 27  wherein fixing a support base at the second end of the elongated member further comprises fixedly coupling an ankle portion of the support base to the second end of the elongated member, and further providing an enlarged foot portion having the ankle portion coupled thereto and being configured for being fixed to an external surface.  
   
   
       34 : The method of  claim 33  wherein the fixing a support base at the first end of the elongated member further comprises forming in the ankle portion an aperture sized to receive the first end portion of the support leg thereinto and means for retaining the support leg relative thereto; and 
 wherein the providing an enlarged foot portion being configured for being fixed to an external surface further comprises forming in the enlarged foot portion an aperture therethrough, the aperture being sized to pass a mechanical fastener therethrough.    
   
   
       35 : The method of  claim 34  wherein the forming in the ankle portion an aperture further comprises forming a substantially tubular aperture sized to receive the first end portion of the support leg thereinto in a relatively rotationally rotatable relationship therewith.  
   
   
       36 : The method of  claim 35  wherein the providing an enlarged foot portion further comprises forming an elongated foot portion; and 
 wherein the forming in the enlarged foot portion an aperture therethrough further comprises forming an elongated slot substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the elongated foot portion.    
   
   
       37 : The method of  claim 28  wherein the supporting a rigid mounting platform at the second end portion of the elongated member further comprises mounting on the second end portion of the elongated member a device mounting means for fixedly mounting an external device to the second end portion of the permanently bendable support leg, wherein the device mounting means further comprises: 
 a connector comprising a female collar forming therein an internal cavity sized to receive the second end portion of the support leg thereinto and means for retaining the support leg relative thereto, and a pair of arm members forming a socket-shaped cavity therebetween,    a mounting base with a pressure deformable ball mount projected therefrom and sized to be relatively rotatably received into the socket-shaped cavity of the connector, and    means for applying clamping force between the pair of arm members relative to the socket-shaped cavity formed therebetween.    
   
   
       38 : A method for manufacturing a vehicle mounting bracket, the method comprising: 
 of a permanently bendable metal material, sizing a single continuous length of an elongated rod that is formed of a permanently bendable continuously solid metal and comprising first and second substantially straight end portions separated by the single continuous length of the rod, the length of the elongated rod being shapeable into a configuration useful for supporting a rigid mounting platform at the second end thereof;    providing a support base comprising means for securing to an external surface;    at the first end of the length of the elongated rod, securing the support base;    providing a mounting platform, further comprising: 
 providing a connector comprising a compressible female collar,  
 sizing the compressible female collar to receive the second end portion thereinto,  
 providing means for compressing the female collar relative to the second end portion, and  
 projecting a pressure deformable ball mount from the collar; and  
   at the second end of the length of the elongated rod, securing the mounting platform.    
   
   
       39 : The method of  claim 38 , wherein the providing a mounting platform further comprises providing first and second substantially rigid arm members structured for forming a substantially part-spherical socket cavity therebetween and sizing the socket cavity to be rotatable relative to the pressure deformable ball mount, and providing threaded means for applying a clamping force between the arm members relative to the socket cavity formed therebetween.  
   
   
       40 : The method of  claim 39  wherein the providing first and second substantially rigid arm members structured for forming a substantially part-spherical socket cavity therebetween further comprises providing first and second substantially rigid arm members structured for forming a pair of substantially part-spherical socket cavities therebetween and spacing the pair of socket cavities apart on opposite sides of the threaded means for applying a clamping force between the arm members; and 
 further comprising providing a mounting base having a plurality of mounting apertures formed therethrough with a pressure deformable ball mount projected therefrom and sizing the ball mount for being relatively rotatably received into one of the socket cavities.    
   
   
       41 : The method of  claim 38  wherein the providing a connector comprising a compressible female collar further comprises providing a longitudinally split tubular aperture sized to admit the second end portion of the length of the elongated rod in a relatively rotationally rotatable relationship therewith, and the 
 providing means for compressing the female collar relative to the second end portion further comprises providing a threaded closure operable across the split in the tubular aperture.    
   
   
       42 : The method of  claim 41  wherein the projecting a pressure deformable ball mount from the collar further comprises projecting a substantially smooth, part spherical-shaped ball mount formed of a resiliently pressure deformable elastomeric material.  
   
   
       43 : The method of  claim 38  wherein the providing a support base further comprises providing a support base comprising a substantially rigid shoe-shaped support base, comprising providing a foot portion formed with an one or more slots sized to admit a threaded fastener, providing an ankle portion comprising an aperture sized to receive the first end of the length of the elongated rod, and providing one or more threaded apertures extending between the aperture and an exterior surface of the ankle portion, and providing a threaded fastener matched to each of the one or more threaded apertures.  
   
   
       44 : The method of  claim 43  wherein providing a foot portion further comprises providing an elongated foot portion formed with at least one elongated slot sized to admit a threaded fastener.  
   
   
       45 : The method of  claim 44  wherein providing an ankle portion further comprises providing the ankle portion adjacent one end of the foot portion.  
   
   
       46 : A method for manufacturing a vehicle mounting bracket, the method comprising: 
 forming a single elongated substantially cylindrical support leg of a continuously solid and permanently bendable metal rod, forming the support leg further comprising forming opposing first and second substantially straight end portions contiguous with a continuous portion therebetween; forming    forming a slotted shoe mechanism, comprising: 
 forming an ankle portion comprising a substantially cylindrical aperture sized to receive the first straight end portion of the support leg in a relatively rotationally rotatable relationship therewith, and a plurality of threaded apertures extending between the aperture and an exterior surface of the ankle portion,  
 forming a foot portion that is coupled to the ankle portion and structured with a slot for securing the mounting apparatus relative to an external surface, and  
 matching a threaded fastener to each of the plurality of threaded apertures;  
   coupling the slotted shoe mechanism to the first straight end portion of the support leg;    forming a mounting platform, comprising: 
 forming a female collar having an internal cavity structured to be coupled to the second straight end portion of the support leg and being truncated by a closed base, and  
 forming a platform on the closed base of the female collar and being structured for coupling an external device thereto; and  
 coupling the mounting platform to the second straight end portion of the support leg.  
   
   
   
       47 : The method of  claim 46  wherein the forming a platform on the closed base of the female collar further comprises: 
 projecting a polygonal axle portion from an outer surface of the closed base opposite from the truncated cavity, and    forming a relatively larger wheel portion at one end of the axle portion distal from the closed base.    
   
   
       48 : The method of  claim 46 , further comprising forming a positively-positionable wheel-and-axle assembly with the wheel and polygonal axle portions, comprising providing a split arm assembly comprising first and second relatively rigid arm members and a clamp structured to secure together the arm members in an operatively juxtaposed configuration, each of the arm members being formed with a polygonal part collar adjacent a first end, the polygonal part collar of each of the arm members being structured to cooperate with the polygonal axle portion, and a space adjacent to the polygonal part collar of each of the arm members being sized to receive the wheel portion thereinto.  
   
   
       49 : The method of  claim 48 , further comprising providing a ball mount assembly comprising a radially compressible ball mounted on a mounting base; and 
 wherein the providing a split arm assembly further comprises forming a socket structured to cooperate with the ball of the ball mount assembly to form a securely positionable ball-and-socket assembly, wherein forming a socket further comprises providing adjacent to a second end of each of the first and second relatively rigid arm members opposite from the split arm assembly part collar a part hemispherical socket. 
 projecting a pressure deformable ball mount from the collar; and  
   at the second end of the length of the elongated rod, securing the mounting platform.    
   
   
       50 : The method of  claim 46 , wherein the forming a platform on the closed base of the female collar further comprises: 
 projecting a pressure deformable ball mount from an outer surface of the closed base opposite from the truncated cavity,    providing first and second substantially rigid arm members structured for forming a substantially part-spherical socket cavity therebetween and sizing the socket cavity to be rotatable relative to the pressure deformable ball mount, and    providing threaded means for applying a clamping force between the arm members relative to the socket cavity formed therebetween.    
   
   
       51 : The method of  claim 50  wherein the providing first and second substantially rigid arm members structured for forming a substantially part-spherical socket cavity therebetween further comprises providing first and second substantially rigid arm members structured for forming a pair of substantially part-spherical socket cavities therebetween and spacing the pair of socket cavities apart on opposite sides of the threaded means for applying a clamping force between the arm members; and 
 further comprising providing a mounting base having a plurality of mounting apertures formed therethrough with a pressure deformable ball mount projected therefrom and sizing the ball mount for being relatively rotatably received into one of the socket cavities.